Naruto: Naruto's Uchiha girlfriend is too arrogant

Chapter 25 The Qualification to Be Saved

The Land of Hot Springs is located in the northeastern part of the Land of Fire. This small country, without any ninja villages, is shrouded in the misty vapors of hot springs year-round. Volcanic geothermal activity has created numerous hot springs, with rising steam perpetually swirling among the scattered inns. It is not only an ideal meeting place for spies from major powers but also a favorite trading hub for black market merchants.

Dog's Bath Inn is located at the end of the town's busiest street. Legend has it that long ago, when this was just a poor little village, a dog suddenly appeared one day. It kept barking at a certain spot on the ground, and the villagers, unable to bear it any longer, eventually dug up that spot of land with the help of the village's young men.

"Thump!"

Suddenly, scalding hot spring water gushed forth, and billowing steam instantly enveloped the entire village. From then on, this village, which prospered because of the hot spring, gradually flourished and eventually developed into the hot spring town it is today. The villagers firmly believed that the dog was a messenger sent by the dog god, so they named the hot spring "Dog's Bath," and the inn built later also adopted this name.

Japanese-style room on the second floor of the hotel

The paper door was gently pulled open, and Hyuga Hizashi knelt by the window. His black eye patch had already been removed, but his pure white eyes were still slightly narrowed, as the long period of darkness made it difficult for him to adapt to the light.

They had been traveling for two full days since they were rescued. During that time, the man in black robes gave him no instructions other than to use a transformation spell to disguise himself as an ordinary traveler. There were no restraints, no torture, and not even any extra conversations. He simply told him to "keep up" and then led him across the border to this place.

What exactly is going on...?

Hizashi's fingertips unconsciously traced the rim of his teacup, a barrage of questions swirling within him. If the other party truly intended to seize the Byakugan, they could have bound him up like the Cloud Village had done. And if they were ninjas from other villages, they shouldn't have launched such a high-profile attack on the Cloud Village's convoy.

What puzzled him most was...

The man in black robes said "I'll accept your disdain" when he saved him, but so far, the man has never even touched his eyes.

Familiar footsteps sounded outside the paper door, and Hizashi immediately straightened his back. With a creak, the figure wearing a fox mask appeared in the doorway, still dressed in that black robe. Fortunately, the faint sense of oppression emanating from him had probably disappeared since they were no longer fighting.

Hyuga Hizashi maintained a standard kneeling posture. Opposite him, the mysterious man also sat on the ground, the hem of his black robe spread out on the rush-woven tatami mat, and a fox mask completely concealed his face in shadow.

A silence fell over the room, broken only by the faint sound of the hot spring water flowing outside the window. As Hizashi pondered how to begin the conversation...

"You must have a lot of questions right now."

The masked man suddenly spoke, his voice coming through the mask.

"Regarding my identity, I can't go into details." He raised his hand, tapping his mask lightly with his fingertips. "And this mask can't be removed. If you need a name... just call me 'Mianma'."

"Menma...sir." Hizashi carefully chose the honorific title. After the other party single-handedly annihilated the entire Cloud Village delegation, he instinctively maintained the highest level of courtesy.

He took a deep breath, his white eyes fixed on the eerie mask. "This question may be a bit presumptuous... but what is your purpose?"

Surprisingly, Menma didn't seem to mind the direct question. She remained casually seated on the tatami mat.

"It's alright, there's no need to beat around the bush. Strictly speaking, I don't belong to any particular ninja village. As for saving you..."

"It's not because I want to be looked down upon."

Hizashi's body stiffened visibly for a moment. The words "I'll accept your disdain" from the battlefield were still ringing in his ears, yet now they were being dismissed so casually?

Seemingly sensing his confusion, Menma offered an explanation. "That statement, to be precise, was meant to make those guys in Kumogakure believe in my intentions. I've taken an action tantamount to declaring war; they'll definitely portray me as some kind of vicious villain, right?"

A soft chuckle came from beneath the mask. "I don't want to be morally blackmailed. In their presence, I'll just play the role of someone they fear."

Hijiri was stunned. He realized that the meticulousness of the thinking displayed by the man who had so easily destroyed an elite force was far more astonishing than his physical prowess.

"So... what is your real purpose?"

Mianma did not answer immediately. He reached out and picked up the teapot on the table, slowly pouring tea into the cup.

"Besides rolling my eyes, I can't think of anything else about myself..."

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

"The qualifications to be rescued."

His numb fingers gently caressed the rim of the teacup. "Do you believe it?" His voice suddenly carried an indescribable emotion, like anger, yet also like pity.

Sometimes, saving someone doesn't need any special reason.

The teacup was placed heavily on the table, and a few drops of tea splashed out.

"I just can't stand it." Mianma's voice suddenly turned cold. "I can't stand those hypocritical bastards, using the banner of national righteousness to push an innocent person to their death."

That's all.

Hizashi's body suddenly stiffened.

What?

His mind went blank. Just because... he couldn't stand it? This powerful figure, capable of easily annihilating the elite Cloud Hidden Army, risked making an enemy of a great nation, simply because...

Acts of bravery and righteousness?

The absurd thought almost made him laugh out loud. A pawn abandoned by the village, a willing sacrifice, now being saved for such a fairytale-like reason?

Menma saw through his wavering, and tilted his mask slightly. "Of course, saving you wouldn't be without benefit for me. But the specific reasons... I'm afraid I can't say."

Silence spread through the room.

Suddenly, Hizashi slowly stood up. Under Menma's questioning gaze, he took a few steps back, and then...

"Bang."

His forehead rested on the tatami mat, in the standard dogeza posture. Hizashi's voice was low and trembling. "This kindness..."

"I was prepared to die, I had been abandoned by my compatriots, and I never imagined that I could be reborn in this way."

When he raised his head, a complex light flickered in his white eyes. "Whatever your purpose... this life you have now is indeed a gift from you."

"If you require anything of me, Hyuga Hizashi... I would gladly die for you."

Naruto, wearing a fox mask, scratched his head in slight distress. He wasn't used to such formal etiquette. Although the life-saving grace certainly deserved a kneeling, being solemnly sworn allegiance to someone made him feel subtly awkward.

Fortunately, Rizashi quickly straightened up and sat upright again. His expression remained calm, but deep within his pure white eyes, complex emotions flickered.

"I really wanted to say that... really, thank you so much. But... I'm sorry. Even if you go to this much, I'm afraid my life... won't last much longer."

Mianma didn't let him continue.

"I know."

A calm voice came from behind the mask.

"You're like a caged bird, aren't you? If the Konoha higher-ups want to quell the Raikage's anger, the main branch of the Konoha clan will definitely place a cursed seal on you—even if you've already been 'kidnapped,' they'll still use the cursed seal to ensure your 'death,' right?"

Risa paused for a moment, then gave a wry smile.

"...You really do know."

Menma stared at him silently for a moment before speaking. "But even so... even if you try to convince yourself that you've 'accepted death'... as expected, you still don't want to die."

These words struck a chord deep within Hizashi's heart, triggering a long-suppressed emotion.

I don't want to die... I was prepared, I was determined to die for the Hyuga clan and for the peace of Konoha... But the moment I stepped onto the prison cart, Neji's face appeared in my mind.

My child... is still so young...

Menma slowly stood up, the hem of his black robe falling silently. "In this world, as long as there are still things to hold onto, no one truly wants to die."

His voice carried an undeniable certainty. "Now that I've decided to save you, I won't give up halfway—I'll see this good deed through to the end."

Hizashi looked up, and Menma's figure was reflected in his white eyes. Menma walked up to him, reached out, and gently placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Don't move."

The next second, a gentle yet profound chakra flowed from his palm, seeping into Hizashi's body like a trickle.

Chakra gradually outlined a complex mark. The patterns intertwined like chains, yet possessed a unique style.

"This is……?"

As Hizashi stared at the mark, he felt like he had seen a similar technique somewhere before.

Menma withdrew his hand, and the light of the mark gradually faded. "As long as I feel the Caged Bird Seal being activated, I will use chakra to activate this mark."

"I will sense it immediately. Although I cannot guarantee 100% success, I am at least 70% confident that I can save your life."

Hizashi's pupils contracted slightly. Stop the caged bird?! Does such a technique... really exist?

"After things settle down in Kumogakure, I will arrange for you to meet your son under the illusion of being 'dead'."

"My...son?"

Hijiri's voice suddenly choked up.

Neji...

That small figure instantly appeared in my mind—the stubborn eyes, the defiant expression, and the way he would grit his teeth and say, "Father, I can continue," every time he was exhausted from cultivation.

Will I be able to see him again?

This promise was like a key, instantly unlocking his long-suppressed emotions. His throat felt constricted, and even his breathing became slightly trembling.

"Menma-sama..."

He opened his mouth, but found that he could not say anything more.

Menma waved his hand, interrupting his possible thanks. "Until then, you can stay here. I've already paid for your accommodation."

He paused, a subtle smile suddenly appearing in his voice. "Of course, afterwards... I do need your help with something."

The daily routine hasn't had time to respond yet—

"Bang!"

With a soft sound, the mound of dough in front of me suddenly turned into a wisp of white smoke and vanished.

Shadow clones?!

Hizashi stood frozen in place, alone in the empty Japanese-style room. The faint sound of flowing hot spring water could be heard outside the window, and only the chakra mark on his shoulder proved the presence of the mysterious man.